dot-skills Graph Database Schema Design Best Practices

Comprehensive graph database data modeling guide for property graphs (Neo4j, Memgraph, Amazon Neptune, etc.). Contains 46 rules across 8 categories, prioritized by modeling impact from critical (entity classification, relationship design) to incremental (scale and evolution). Each rule includes detailed explanations, real-world Cypher examples comparing incorrect vs. correct models, and specific impact descriptions.

Philosophy: Data modeling correctness first, performance second. Always ask "what is the user trying to achieve?" before choosing structure.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Designing a new graph database schema from domain requirements
• Translating a relational schema to a graph model
• Deciding whether something should be a node, relationship, or property
• Reviewing an existing graph schema for modeling errors
• Refactoring a graph that produces awkward or slow queries
• Planning for schema evolution and data growth

Rule Categories by Priority